ADA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger Softball closed out their three game series against East Central on Saturday afternoon. The Rangers struck first with five runs in the opening two innings of the game to take a 5-0 lead and never trailed. Northwestern closed out the 8-5 victory taking the final game of the series.
Northwestern improves to 15-22 overall on the season with a 5-18 conference record following the road game and moving to 8-10 on the road.Â
The Rangers led by Tatum Winters with 4-RBIs in the win while scoring a run on a three run home run. Rachel Sherwood led the team in hits with three scoring three runs a team high as well in the game. Hannah Howell pitched a complete game for the Rangers allowing two earned runs while striking out four.Â
Northwestern wasted no time scoring in this game jumping out to a three spot in the first inning on three hits. The inning started with a Rosemary Rivera single followed by a Rachel Sherwood single for first and second, before Tatum Winters later in the inning hit a three run home run to take a 3-0 early lead in the first inning.Â
Howell threw a perfect bottom half of the inning picking up two strikeouts as well keeping the Rangers in front 3-0 before extending the lead. Avery Tittle walked to start the inning before a Rachel Sherwood double scored Tittle taking a 4-0 lead. Sherwood scored to help take a 5-0 lead on a Tigers error as the Ranger took advantage of the opportunity.Â
East Central answered back after a walk and a single led to a 2-RBI single for Feazle to cut the Ranger lead to 5-2. In the bottom of the third inning East Central was able to add one more as a single and an error led to an RBI ground out for the Tigers and cut the Rangers lead down to 5-3 after three innings.Â
The score remained 5-3 before the Rangers were able to strike and extend the lead in the sixth inning after a hit batter and two singles loaded the bases. This led to an RBI ground out scoring Sherwood as Winters had the RBI and a 6-3 lead for the Rangers.Â
The Tigers answered back, scoring a run in the sixth on a solo home run making the game 6-4 in favor of the Rangers. Northwestern added to their lead in the seventh inning as after a Madeline Pack double she came around to score on a passed ball before Rosemary Rivera took advantage of a Tigers error scoring for an 8-4 lead.Â
The Tigers scored one run in their half of the inning as Lesko hit an RBI double to right center field followed by a walk as East Central loaded the bases with two outs. Hannah Howell then came back to strike out the final hitter of the game to hold on to the 8-5 victory over the Tigers.Â
Northwestern is back home this Tuesday against Southwestern Oklahoma State for a doubleheader against the Bulldogs to close out the season series.Â
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